Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) brain abscess in a well appearing premature infant

Abstract

Brain abscesses in infants are extremely rare and occur as an uncommon complication of bacterial meningitis or sepsis. This case is of a 29 week male premature infant with a diagnosis of a brain abscess at 63 days of life secondary to methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus bacteria (MRSA) which evolved after a fairly unremarkable neonatal intensive care unit course. Cultures of the cerebrospinal fluid and blood yielded no growth. He was found to be colonized with methicillin- resistant staphylococcus aureus on routine surveillance cultures after transfer from an outside hospital. The infant required a temporary external ventricular drain for hydrocephalus and compression of the brainstem secondary to the mass effect. He is currently developing favorably at 14 months after undergoing prolonged treatment with Vancomycin and Rifampin.